Harry and I were getting closer day by day. The things he does for me, his ways to make me laugh and his everything was drawing me towards him. Most of the guys and girls started envying our relationship. If I say the truth, I loved it. It’s the first time I ever loved the thing like that. It felt like he belongs to me. I was changing a lot in his presence.
I started spending most of my time in Harry’s house talking to him, laughing, dancing and enjoying. Looking at us, my mom once asked what’s going on between us. She also said it looked like we both had something. I replied it was nothing but I felt she was right. There was something between us both which I couldn’t figure out.
Anna and Roman became more close than us. They started behaving like a couple. Roman was not leaving Anna anytime. They both started roaming the town leaving Harry and I. One day they were caught by Anna’s mom while roaming the town. Luckily Harry and I reached the same place at correct time and I managed the situation.
I was feeling nervous as the next morning was the town’s competition. Everyone was practicing hard to win it. Harry and I started spending extra hours for it. We even stopped going to college for the past two days.
We were in practice room, practicing the theme that we were going to perform in the competition. I had a feeling that we would win in the competition but I was a bit afraid as well as nervous. Whereas Harry didn’t show any kind of tensed expression in his face. He looked casual as usual.
After rehearsing many difficult, weird steps that Harry taught which felt like doing gymnastics, we both sat on the floor, sweating.
My mind kept imagining the scenarios that would likely to happen in the competition. Who would win it and many things.
“Are you ready for the competition?” I asked looking at him.
“Yes I am.” He smirked.
I rolled my eyes hearing him. For him, it might be a normal, usual dance competition but for me, it’s a big thing. Since I was a kid I was dreaming to win it.
“What about you?” He asked looking at me.
“Yeah!” I nodded hearing him. I shifted my gaze to the nearby wall.
“You seem tensed. Relax Stella.” He said.
“No. I’m not.” I tried to say it confidently yet I couldn’t. I stammered a bit.
He held my hand saying “Stella! I won’t let you lose. Trust me. We are going to win, okay?”
I smiled hearing his words. His words always energize me and makes me believe him, regardless whatever he says.
We then resumed our practice and continued it till evening. After spending few minutes with granny, he dropped me at my house.
The night I spent my time rehearsing individual steps. While I was practicing, my mom entered my room.
“Want some milk?” mom asked.
“No mom.” Without looking at her I replied as I was concentrating on my steps.
“Stella! Relax. It’s already night. Take rest.” My mom said looking at me.
Hearing her I sat on the bed with a worried expression. My mom sat beside me and held my hand saying “You shouldn’t worry about tomorrow.”I let out a sigh saying “I already lost it in my high school and I don’t want to lose again.”
“You are practicing good. Everything will be fine.”
I simply nodded hearing her. My mom suggested me to not practice the night but to take rest. As I was tired, I lay on my bed. I heard the message notification sound from my cell phone. I saw Harry’s name popped on the screen.
“Don’t worry about tomorrow, princess. We will rock.” – Harry
Looking at his message, my lips curved up with smile. I texted “Okay.”
Then I shut my eyes and drifted into sleep. The next day I woke up early and got ready. After having my breakfast, I waited for Harry.
Within few minutes, l heard Harry’s car horn honking and I strolled out of the house. Though there’s a lot of time for the competition to start, we have to reach early as there were few formalities that needed to be take care of. We drive to the place where the competition held. The building was decorated beautifully and I saw a lot of students from other colleges. There were few dancers whom I knew already. I smiled looking at them and they smiled back.
Harry and I strolled in and finished our formalities. I saw Rory along with his partner. I smiled looking at him but he seemed not happy seeing me with Harry. When Harry strolled away when he got a call, I strolled to Rory.
“Hey! All the best.” I wished smiling.
“Stella! All the best to you too.” He wished.
I smiled looking at him and kept silent. I noticed him staring at me but I ignored him. He then asked “So how good was your practice?”
I narrowed my eyes hearing him. He continued saying “I asked casually.”
“Yeah! It’s… good.”
“You should have selected another partner. Look at him. Do you notice even a bit of seriousness on his face?”
I looked at Harry who was laughing. He looked so casual. I was already scared and nervous. Rory’s words increased my fear. Though I was not showing it on my face, I was feeling scared deep down.
Rory continued “Whatever! I wish you get success, Stella.”
I didn’t reply anything to him. His words discouraged me and he was wishing me the best. I shouldn’t have talked to him. Stupid Stella!
Harry cut his call and strolled to me. We then went inside the main hall where the competition held. We were standing in an opposite side of audience. I noticed my parents, Anna and Roman sat among the audience. I looked at Harry who was already staring at me.
“Everything will be fine. Trust me.” He said it like assuring.
The competition started and everyone was giving their best. Vickie did an amazing performance but Rory did beyond excellent. At a certain point, I was losing hope looking at the performances of others but Harry kept lifting up my spirits.
It’s time when we had to step on the stage. It’s not new for me to fear that much but it felt different. Since childhood I danced only with Noah and he was the only dance partner I had. But today instead of Noah, Harry was there so I was nervous of the thought how our pair would attract the judges and how good we dance as a pair.
Harry and I stood on the stages and the music began to play. Harry held my hand, pulling me to him. We then kept doing floor moments which I was doing first time in front of all. Everyone started cheering at us. Harry twirled me and took me in his arms. He then threw me up for which everyone was startled but when he caught me all of them started shouting. He did flips in the air and I felt we grabbed everyone’s attention. Their encouragement boosted me and I let go of my nervousness which I was hiding. I kept dancing with Harry, laughing. It’s like I was not in the competition but enjoying with Harry while dancing.
We then did few difficult movements which I always felt like gymnastics. Harry did the movements which no one performed ever before in the competition. Then he took my hand and we both remained in a bachata dance position where I leaned back and he caught my waist with his right hand whereas I wrapped my right hand over his neck, ending the dance. We both remained in the position though the music was stopped. I kept looking at his eyes though I was hearing audience’s claps telling the dance was finished. Harry too didn’t let me go that’s when the host came to us clapping.
“Wonderful.” He exclaimed.
Harry and I stood straight. I started smiling while the judges were praising us. Then we both strolled away from there. After us, few other pairs danced and the dances were ended.
We all were waiting for the results, tensed. I shut my eyes when they were about to declare the names. My mouth dropped wide open when they call out our names. I was frozen for a moment and suddenly I came back to my senses.
“Oh my god!” I mumbled and hugged Harry who was just smiling. He was not over excited like me. Harry hugged me back whispering into my ear “I definitely deserve a reward for this.”
I laughed hearing him and we both stood on the stage. I noticed Vickie throwing daggers with her eyes. Rory looked embarrassed and he walked out. Harry and I received the prize, title ‘Town’s dancers’ and small amount of money.
While giving us the prize, the judge said smiling “You look good as a pair. We should give you the title of ‘Cute pair of the town’ too.”
Harry smirked hearing her and I bent my head down not saying anything. We then strolled out. Anna hugged me and kissed my cheek. Everyone congratulated us and I felt so proud. It was the moment I completely trusted him. Though he won’t take anything seriously, he prioritize the matters that I love. The competition, dance was nothing to him yet he gave his best. He made me win. If it was not Harry, I might not have won it.
“There’s a party tonight at a restaurant. Harry and Stella, you should come.” Roman said.
“Party? When did you start arranging parties and partying without me?” Harry narrowed his eyebrows.
Roman laughed hearing him and then we all started to our houses.